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U.S. Department of Homeland Security

ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

TXFull-time

5mo

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
  • DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
  • Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU

Qualifications

Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time.

To minimally qualify for the WG-10 grade level you must meet the Screen Out Element/s.

  • Performing the work of the position without more than normal supervision: working independently, making decisions, planning operations, showing job responsibility, exercising initiative, with examples of work including but not limited to; making decisions on work site with regard to completion of assigned work, determining priorities and the most effective steps of maintenance to equipment and maintaining daily report of completed work
  • Performing construction equipment operations such as clearing brush; constructing canal structures, laterals and ditches; cleaning, shaping and rebuilding canals and slopes; and all types of road maintenance to include blading, watering and compacting to meet approved specifications

To meet the screen out element(s), you should have experience performing the following duties:

  • Grading surfaces, compact soils, or roll to exact specifications on flat or rolling terrain
  • Adjust attachments for proper positioning and working order, making adjustments, usually, without stopping the power unit or the equipment
  • Performing difficult tasks of rough terrain grading the earth and general contour desired as well as fine surfacing on flat or rolling terrain
  • Moving earth on mountains and steep slopes, graded curves and shoulders, rocky or soft ground, hilly forests, and other surfaces with similar rough features
  • Using of hand and motor-powered tools and equipment such as shovels, rakes, axes, plate tampers, weed eaters, chain saws, lawn mowers

Failure to meet these Screen out Element/s will result in an ineligible rating.In addition to the experience described above, you will also be evaluated on the basis of your overall level of competency (knowledge, skills, and abilities) in the following areas:

  • Ability to make adjustments to large equipment, including under adverse operating conditions
  • Knowledge of a variety of soil composition and conformation as well as knowledge of purpose and limitations of a large variety of attachments
  • Ability to work in all types of weather, exposed to injury due to the possibility of equipment overturning, and subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from the motor and exhaust with large and complicated equipment
  • Ability to sustained heavy physical effort required in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle different sets of controls to operate the equipment and attachments

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 01/07/2025.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess a valid state driver's license at the time of appointment. In addition, you will be require to have a Class 1 Commercial Driver's License.

Work Conditions: Work is performed in all types of weather and operators are exposed to injury due to the possibility of equipment overturning. They are subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from the motor and exhaust with large and complicated equipment. Heavy physical effort is used in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle different sets of controls to operate the equipment and attachments. Equipment is large and there is a need for adjustments under adverse operating conditions.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR

  • 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR
  • 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

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